Mercury emissions into the environment have both natural and anthropogenic sources. Natural sources include volcanic activity, erosion of mineral deposits (the earth’s crust contains 0.5 parts per million of mercury) (Gochfeld, 2003; Gustin, 2003), association with hydrocarbons (Miedaner et al., 2005; Wilhelm et al., 2006), and volatilization from the oceans, whereas man related sources include...

Natural methane emission from geological sources has recently been recognized as an important component in the atmospheric methane budget. Some authors have only focused their attention on submarine gas seepage and gas hydrates (Judd, 2000; Kvenvolden et al., 2001), recent studies have suggested that mud volcanoes (MVs) on land and microseepage in hydrocarbon-prone areas are also significant ge...

As in other cold seeps, the dominant bivalves in mud volcanoes (MV) from the Gulf of Cadiz are macrofauna belonging to the families Solemyidae (Acharax sp., Petrasma sp.), Lucinidae (Lucinoma sp.), Thyasiridae (Thyasira vulcolutre) and Mytilidae (Bathymodiolus mauritanicus). The delta(13)C values measured in solemyid, lucinid and thyasirid specimens support the hypothesis of thiotrophic nutriti...

Geological processes at subduction zones control seismicity, plutonism and volcanism, geochemical cycling between the oceans, crust, mantle. The down-going plate experiences metamorphism, associated dehydration fluid flow alters physical properties of interface mantle wedge, as well controlling composition material descending into Any direct study slab evolution during is inhibited by prohibiti...

The waters of the Eastern Mediterranean are characterized by unique physical and chemical properties within separate water masses occupying different depths. Distinct water masses are present throughout the oceans, which drive thermohaline circulation. These water masses may contain specific microbial assemblages. The goal of this study was to examine the effect of physical and geological pheno...